Tyrone U20s battle back to draw with Down

TYRONE 0-11  DOWN 1-8

TYRONE Under-20s remain on track to reach the knockout stages of the Ulster Championship though they had to really battle to chisel out a draw against Down last Wednesday night.

This was supposed to be a home tie for the Red Hands but because of a water-logged surface at O’Neill’s Healy Park, and no other suitable venue at such late notice within the County- Ulster GAA opted for the Dub Playing Fields in Belfast.

Tyrone were their own worst enemy at times, especially within scoring range, and it appeared that an eye-watering wides tally of seventeen was going to cost them dear, despite bossing the possession stakes further out the field for long periods.

You couldn’t question their character however, even with their erratic shooting, and they managed to cancel out a six point second half deficit to take something from the contest.

Down’s counter-attacking style proved effective in the first period with the Red Hands struggling to break through the massed Mourne defensive ranks.

Tyrone mustered only two points in the first half, via Oisin Gormley and Gavin Potter, but in contrast a much more clinical Down made the most of the limited scoring opportunities that came their way.

Dara Mussen and free taker Jamie Doran were on target for them, while the stylish Senan Carr also split the posts. Tyrone might have sensed that momentum was switching in their favour when Down full-back David Ruddy picked up a black card, but they were rocked by the concession of a 26th minute goal, Donal Scullion finding the net after a mix up at the back, as the Mourne boys eased into a 1-4 to 0-2 interval advantage.

Conor Owens almost provided a timely fillip for Tyrone soon after the restart but his well-struck shot cannoned back into play off the underside of the Down crossbar.

With a further Doran free putting the Mourne six points to the good, and Tyrone struggling still to find any attacking cohesion, they must have feared the worst.

However a free from Ronan Cassidy and two in quick succession from the lively Owens halved the deficit and handed Tyrone renewed optimism.

A Luke Owens score put Down four to the good again but it was Tyrone who were building up a head of steam entering the final quarter.

Points from Cormac Devlin and Gavin Potter left two in it before Senan Carr registered at the other end.

Again lady luck didn’t shine on Tyrone as Shea O’Hare struck the woodwork, but they were not going to be denied.

A third point from Potter and fisted effort by sub Noah Grimes left one in it, though on a rare attacking sortie Down gained a free which Doran converted.

Heading into the dying embers Owens swung over a beauty to reduce the gap to the bare minimum and deep into injury time Callum Daly, captain of the Omagh CBS Hogan Cup winning team, put the seal on a memoraale week for him to snap up the loose ball around the Down square and fist over the leveller.

The Scorers

Tyrone

Gavin Potter (0-3), Conor Owens (0-3,1f), Cormac Devlin, Oisin Gormley, Noah Grimes, Callum Daly (0-1 each, Ronan Cassidy (0-1,free)

Down

Jamie Doran (0-4,4f), Senan Carr (0-2), Donal Scullion (1-0), Dara Mussen, Luke Quinn (0-1 each)

The Teams

Tyrone

Conor McAneney, Joey Clarke, Ben Hughes, Conor Devlin, Shea O’Hare, Michael Rafferty, Odhran Brolly, Ronan Fox, Conor O’Neill, Cormac Devlin, Eoin McElholm, Gavin Potter, Ronan Cassidy, Conor Owens, Oisin Gormley. Subs used: Noah Grimes, Callum Daly, Ruairi McCullagh, Caolan Donnelly

Down

Jack Mulgrew, Dan Rafferty, David Ruddy, Mark McSwiggan, Cian Cunningham, Finn Murdock, Luke Quinn, Tom McCarroll, Senan Carr, Jamie Doran, Ronan Kelly, Ryan Quinn, Donal Scullion, Dara Mussen, Matthew Murray.

Referee: Conall Roberts (Antrim)